Human Rights Regional

Nigerian angry mob sets ablaze Abuja man for Blasphemy

1 Min Read

ABUJA-(MaraviPost)-Angry mob has set ablaze member of vigilance group at Timber Shed market in the Federal Housing Estate (FHA) Lugbe, Abuja for making a blasphemous statement.

The victim alongside other group members were making moves to arrest some residents trespassing the market in the early hours of Saturday before the incident.

Vanguard report indicated that the residents begged the vigilantes to free them in the name of Allah but one of the vigilantes kicked and made comments alleged to be blasphemous.

The comment angered the mob which then regrouped and brought down the vigilante office to rescue their men in custody.

The vigilante personnel insisted that he will not release the arrested person from detention which forced the angry mob to beat him until he was unconscious before they poured petrol over him and set him ablaze in front of the office.

The incident sparkled violence in the market forcing some traders to lock up their shops and other reports indicated that people were shot by policemen.

This comes just few weeks after a female student was beaten to death and set on fire by fellow students for posting blasphemous statements in a student Whatsapp group.

Religious tensions and deadly clashes are common, particularly in the northern part of the country that has largest population of Muslims. Hundreds of people have been brutally murdered for making blasphemous remarks in the region.

Angella Semu

I hold a Bachelor of science degree in Agriculture Development Communication that I obtained from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I previously worked with The Nation Publications Limited since 2018 before joining The Maravi post particularly on Agriculture Desk as an intern before I became a correspondent. Currently I am reporting for The Maravi Post mainly in International News and locally in the Southern region of Malawi.